Indiana Secretary of State Fines and Dissolves Problem Dealer

INDIANAPOLIS (June 24, 2011) –Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White today announced that Securities Commissioner, Chris Naylor, has signed an order fining and permanently revoking the license for auto dealer McCullogh Motors and its alias Exotic Motors. The Office’s Auto Dealer Services Division has fined president and owner Anthony McCullogh $20,000 in civil penalties and has barred any and all future licensing requests made by him or by either McCullogh or Exotic Motors dealerships.

Violations committed by these dealerships under McCullogh control and authority include non-delivery of vehicle titles to consumers within the mandated twenty-one day limit, material misrepresentations on dealer license applications, failure to comply with division subpoenas, operating without a license, misuse of dealer plates, failure to produce an interim plate log, bond and insurance lapses, failure to serve the business location with utilities, failure to maintain good standing with the Department of Revenue, and failure to pay third parties in dealer purchases within the mandated five day limit.

“McCullogh has shown a blatant disregard for the regulations that apply to dealing vehicles in the state of Indiana,” Associate General Counsel and Acting Director of Auto Dealer Services Carol Mihalik said. “These laws exist to not only protect consumers, but also those dealers that do what’s right.”

This is not McCullogh’s only issue with the state. Through the course of the office’s investigation, it learned of other ventures originating with McCullogh – specifically one called Circle City Imports which was run out of his home. While not subject to a separate investigation conducted by the Secretary of State, the Attorney General’s office does have jurisdiction.

“I’d like to thank the persistence of our Auto Dealer Services Division in pursuing this company and its owners,” White said. “Consumers can count on us to continue to weed out these bad actors so that good businesses can flourish.”

Those who feel they have been a victim of an unethical vehicle dealer in Indiana should contact the Office of the Indiana Secretary of State at 317-234-7190.